Magnetic rail-bonding clamp.



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H. P. BRDWN.

l MAGNETIC RAIL BONDING CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED APB.. 2, 1907.

1,023,921. Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

IIIIIIIIIIUINHIIIII /m 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TIN-'III l HAROLD P. BROWN, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

MAGNETIC RAIL-BONDING- CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

Application filed April 2, 1907. Serial No. 365,971.

y Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and useful Magnetic Rail-Bonding Clamp, of

lwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a magnetic rail bonding clamp, with the objectin view of providing a simple and effective clamp for bonding railswithout requiring the exposure of the sides and base of the rail andwithout interfering with traffic along the track.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, in which* Figure 1 is a view of the clamp in sideelevation as it appears when in use applied to a rail, the handles beingbroken away, Fig. 2 is a top plan view, Fig. 3 is an end view, Fig. 4 isa view in detail showing the connection of the feed screw with thesupporting' arm or bracket, and Fig. 5 is a diagram showing theelectrical connections for operating the clamp.

My invention contemplates a clamp consisting of a U-shaped frame or coreon which are wound removable magnet spools of suflicient resistance tobe used in circuit between the trolley wire and the rail, ordinarilyfrom 550 to 650 volts. The pole pieces of this magnetic clamp have ironor steel shoes secured on them which are arranged to fit the top surfaceof the particular rail which it is desired to bond. The self inductionof these high resistance spools is very great and when the circuit isopened the discharge current from the spools is liable t-o jump throughthe insulation and pass through the grounded frame of the clamp. To'prevent this, I mount a group of incandescent lamps, in the presentinstance five lamps, in series, the terminals of the lamp circuit beingin parallel with the circuit of the magnet spools. The switch foropening the circuit through the magnet spools is between the trolleywire and the end of these circuits in parallel with each other; thus theopening of the switch permits the magnet spools to discharge through thelamps. The electric drill is also conveniently operated from the trolleycurrent and the same file of lamps is arranged to discharge the eldmagnets of the drill motor when the motor circuit is opened.

My invention further contemplates means for readily removing the clampfrom the rail to permit the passage of cars and to convey 1tfrom jointto joint. Y I

My invention further contemplates certain features of construction andcombinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed outin the claims.

The form which I have chosen for illustration, shows the clamp adaptedto t-he top of a girder rail such as is in common use in paved streetsbut it is to be understood that the clamp is not limited to use inconnection with this particular type of rail but may be used effectivelyin connection with any form of rail by simply fitting its shoe to thetop of the rail.

The yoke of the magnetic clamp is denoted by 1 and the pole piecesextending downwardly therefrom are denoted by 2 and 3. On the polepieces 2 and 3 are mounted magnet spools, in the present instance twospools 4 and 5 on the pole piece 2 and two spools 6 and 7 on the polepiece 3. To the ends o-f the pole pieces 2 and 3 are secured iron shoes8 and 9, respectively, the said shoes being fitted in cross section, asclearly shown in Fig. 3, to conform to the tread, the groove and theguard flange of a street railway rail, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1and 3.

Intermediate of the shoes 8 and 9 and the pole pieces filling pieces 10and 11 are inserted, the latter being permanently fixed to the polepieces and the shoes in turn fixed to these filling pieces in anysuitable manner. It is intended that these shoes shall be removable andinterchangeable with other shoes, the object being to fit the shoes t-othe particular rail top to which the clamp is to be secured.

From the yoke piece 1, a socket standard 12 extends upwardly whichserves also as a standard for the support of the vertically adjustablebracket arm 13, the latter being provided with a set screw 14 forsecuring it in any desired vert-ical adjustment on the socket standard12. rlhe arm 13 is preferably of inverted T shape in cross section, as

shown in Fig. 4, for the reception of a drill supporting` loop 15, thesaid loop being provided with a slot 16 in its top to permit the stem ofthe arm 13 to pass through the loop itself, resting on lateral flangesat the base of the arm. rIhe loop is also provided with an opening 17through its bottom to permit the feed screw 18 of the electric drill topass through.

The hand wheel for operating the feed screw of the drill is denoted by19 and is fixed on the feed screw within the loop 15, a washer 20resting on the upper side of the bottom of the loop 15 around theopening 17 serving as a support for the feed wheel and screw and theparts suspended therefrom. The feed screw has a bearing 21 which, whenthe screw is turned in a direction to force the drill to its work,engages the under side of the arm 13. Then it is desired to withdraw thedrill from its work, the turning of the feed screw in the oppositedirection, will lift the drill by the engagement of the feed wheel 19with the washer 20.

From the feed screw 18, the motor frame 22 depends, the drill 23 beingsuitably engaged with the motor in any well known or approved manner.

Handles 24 and 25 are xed to the drill frame for manipulating it and theelectric current is supplied through a cable 26 leading to the interiorof the frame from the trolley wire as indicated in the diagram, Fig. 5.

It will be noted that the connection of the loop 15 with the overhangingarm 13 is such that the loop may be slid along the arm to adjust thedrill over the point where the rail is to be operated on and the handles24, 25, for manipulating the drill are in tentionally made of sufficientlength that they will ordinarily engage the socket standard 12 in thepath of their rotation to stop the rotary movement of the drill frame asa whole, when it is desired to use this as a stop in lieu of theoperator holding itagainst rotation.

From the socket standard 12, a wooden shaft 27 extends upwardly to theheight of a mans head more or less and for convenience in manipulatingthe clamp, a socket 28, which may or may not be the same height of thesocket 12, is made fast to the opposite end of the yoke 1 and extendsupwardly therefrom to receive a wooden shaft 29 corresponding to thewooden shaft 27, so that these two shafts may be grasped by the hands ofan attendant and the clamp may be, by means thereof, tilted over to oneside, off the rail, for getting it out of the way of a passing car orfor moving it to a new position as may be desired. To further facilitatethe movement of the clamp, I provide a pair of wheels 30 and 31 whichare secured on a shaft 32, the latter` mounted in suitable bearings 33,34, fixed to guards 35, 36. It is desirable that the-se guards 35, 36,be of some suitable non-magnetic material, for example bronze, and theirupper ends are conveniently made fast to the opposite ends of the yoke 1and their lo-wer ends curved to the shoes 8 and 9 where they are madefast to the filling pieces 10 and 11. These guards are convenientlyextended in a horizontal plane, as shown at 37, 38, Figs. 2 and 3, toform a support for the clamp to preventI it from tilting inwardly whenreleased from the rail. 1V hen it is desired to remove it from the rail,it is tilted outwardly by the shafts 27, 28, until the weight of theclamp is carried by the wheels 30, 31, when it may be readily drawn, asa truck is drawn, either laterally or from joint to joint and againreadily set up in position.

The lamps hereinbefore referred to, areV secured to the yoke 1, theseries being denoted, as a whole, by 39.

Referring now to the diagram, Fig. 5, the current for magnetizing theelectro-magnet is taken from the trolley wire 40, conven iently by meansof a hooked conductor 41, which may be hooked at one end over thetrolley wire 40 and is conducted thence by a wire 42 to the clamp, oneof the shafts, for example the shaft 27, serving as a convenientsupportfor the wire as it nears the clamp. The wire 42, which leads to thespools of the electro-magnet and thence to the ground through a suitableground con nection 43, is interrupted by a switch indicated at 44.Between the switch 44 and the spools 4, 5, and 6, 7, a shunt wire 45leads from the wire 42 to the series of lamps 39 and thence to theground connection 43. Between the switch 44 and the shunt wire 45, asecond shunt wire 46 leads to the drill operating motor indicated at 47.This shunt wire 46 has interposed therein a switch 48 which, in closing,at first makes contact with a Contact piece 49 connected with the wire46 through a suitable resistance coil 50, as shown in dotted lines, Fig.5, and finally makes contact with a second Contact piece 51, permittingthe current to pass directly along the wire 46 of the motor 47 andthence through the connection 53 to the ground wire 43. While the drillis in operation, the ground connection is made through the contact ofthe drill bit with the rail. An additional ground connection 52 is madeto yoke 1 so that the magnetic pull of the clamp serves to maintain thecontact. An additional ground connection 53 is made to the motor frame54 to protect the operator from shock as the drill point is withdrawnfrom the rail. This arrangement is such that when the switch 44 isclosed, and the switch 48 opened, current will pass to the spools of themagnet, energizing the magnet, and the rail to which the clamp isapplied serving as an armature, and the clamp will be held to the railunder magnetic force which will hold it securely in position. At thesame time, the current will pass through the series of lamps 39 andthese will serve as a visual indicator to the operator that the currentis on. By watching these lamps, he can readily determine when, for'anycause, the current is olf and the clamp liable to displacement.Furthermore, when the switch 44 is opened, the discharge from the coilswill take place through the lamp series 39 and the sudden shock causedby opening the switch under the higher voltage current will be avoided,the series of lamps serving as a safeguard. Again, when the switch 44 isclosed and it is desired to operate the drill, the switch 48 may beclosed to the contact 49 and a comparatively light current will beallowed to pass through the resistance coils 50 to the drill until thelatter has been properly adjusted and is ready for its full drive whenthe switch 48 may be completely closed into engagement with the contact51 and the full force of the current from the trolley wire will then beexerted to drive the drill. Again, in checking the drill the switch 48may be opened from the contact 51 resting for a moment in contact with49 and the drill thereby slowed down by the resistance coil 50; or, tostop the drill, the switch 44 is opened while the switch 48 is incontact with the piece 51, the shock from the field magnets of the drillmotor will be taken by the series of lamps 39 in the same manner as thatfrom the electro-magnet clamp. This magnetic drill clamp, as aboveindicated, avoids the necessity of disturbing the pavement even to theextent of securing the drill clamp to the rail. It may be readily movedfrom place to place, quickly and for instance a carbon rod, and it isfurther obvious that changes might be resorted to in the form andarrangement of the several parts wit-hout departing from the spirit andscope of my invention; hence lI do not wish to limit myself strictly tothe structure herein shown and described, but

What I claim is 1. A n electro-magnetic clamp provided with anon-inductive high resistance device having its circuit in parallel withthe electro-magnetic clamp circuit.

2. An electro-magnetic clamp provided with a series of lamps havingtheir circuit in parallel with the electro-magnetic clamp circuit.

3. In combination, an electro-magnetic clamp, .an electric drill and anon-inductive high resistance device having its circuit in parallel withthe said clamp and drill circuits.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name in presence of two witnesses, this 22nd day of March 1907.

HAROLD P. BROWN. Witnesses:

ROBT. N. HARDY, THos. H. HAsKINs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

